HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Intergraph(R) has expanded its Smart Grid capabilities to enable utilities to not only view, but also control, their entire distribution network from a single interface, leading to vast improvements in productivity, operations efficiency, security of critical infrastructure, resource allocation, customer service and safety.

Through the convergence of outage, mobile workforce and distribution management, Intergraph enables utilities to immediately identify, locate and resolve network issues and emergency situations such as power outages, resulting in improved customer service and vast time and cost savings.

The latest version of Intergraph technology for utility operations, InService 8.2, provides more efficient Smart Grid network and distribution management through enhanced integration with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology and integration of distribution management systems data from companies such as Siemens Energy, Inc.

Bringing all of these technologies together through a single view empowers control room operators to manage their ever-expanding networks of new smart devices and technologies without being overwhelmed with too much information coming in from disparate locations, allowing them to work smarter and faster and avoid the human errors that often cause blackouts and power outages.

With Intergraph and Siemens, Oncor Electric Delivery is building a Smart Grid that is more reliable, cost-effective and safe than today's typical delivery network. Oncor has completed Phase I of its Smart Grid implementation, which involves the mobile workforce automation of more than 700 field crews and up to 15,000 non-emergency work orders being dispatched each day.

By extending the control room to mobile devices, Intergraph enables utilities to improve coordination between back office and field, ensuring tighter safety and allowing for faster outage response and better allocation of crews. In addition to handling complex scheduling and dispatch operations, Intergraph technology allows companies like Oncor to provide the same map and visuals to field crews that are available to dispatchers in the back office.

"Over the past year especially, we have seen utilities providers across industries begin to reevaluate and enhance their networks to meet rising energy needs and more stringent environmental regulations," said Jay Stinson, Intergraph vice president, Utilities & Communications. "Through InService, Intergraph is helping them overcome this challenge by providing a seamless environment for dispatch, mobile workforce management, scheduling and distribution network management. We have created a consolidated operations environment for the Smart Grid from which control room operators can better communicate with field resources and make faster, more informed decisions."

"Deploying 'smart' technology in the power distribution grid will play an invaluable role in helping utilities monitor the health of their networks and ensure reliability," said Mike Edmonds, vice president and general manager of Siemens Energy's U.S. Energy Automation Division. "Together with Intergraph technology, Siemens' state-of-the-art DMS, Metering Data Management System (MDMS) and power system planning and simulation tools create integrated solutions and services to meet the specific Smart Grid needs of our clients."

InService 8.2 will be available in Q1 2009. The full suite of Intergraph utilities technology will be on display at Booth #1602 at the DistribuTECH conference in San Diego, CA from Feb. 3-5, 2009.

About Intergraph

Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph's industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data into understandable visual representations and actionable intelligence. Intergraph's software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.

Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I). Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction and operation of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially-powered solutions to the defense and intelligence, public safety and security, government, transportation, photogrammetry, utilities, and communications industries. For more information, visit
www.intergraph.com.

About Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2008 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR22.6 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR33.4 billion and posted a profit of EUR1.4 billion. On September 30, 2008, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 83,500. Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/energy.

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